Showing posts with label Jimmy Vivino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jimmy Vivino. Show all posts

Sunday, February 16, 2025

Jimmy Vivino - Gonna Be 2 Of Those Days

Album: Gonna Be 2 Of Those Days
Size: 129,0 MB
Time: 56:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2025
Styles: Blues/Rock mix
Art: Front

1. Blues In The 21st (Feat. Joe Bonamassa) (6:19)
2. Ruby Is Back (5:08)
3. Gonna Be 2 Of Those Days (5:05)
4. Beware The Wolf (Feat. John Sebastian) (3:45)
5. Ain't Nuthin's Gonna Be Alright (4:11)
6. Better Days Past (4:20)
7. Fool's Gold (5:50)
8. Crossed My Mind (5:47)
9. Goin' Down Fast (4:28)
10. Shady Side Of The Street (5:54)
11. Back Up The Country (Feat. John Sebastian) (5:09)

Throughout his career, Jimmy Vivino has worn several hats – as Conan O’Brien’s musical director, stints in the Levon Helm Band, leading the Beatles tribute band Fab Faux, and recently as a member of Canned Heat, not to mention films, Broadway, and countless other endeavors. At heart, though, he’s always favored blues and soul, so it’s not surprising to see him sign with one of today’s most vital blues labels, Mike Zito’s Gulf Coast Records. While Vivino’s guitar and keyboard skills have long been well respected, this gives him the opportunity to display his songwriting skills, which he does in both straightforward and rather clever ways on “Gonna Be 2 Of Those Days.” For example, the CD design itself resembles a 45 rpm.

Vivino on acoustic and electric guitars, piano, and B3 is backed by the bass-drum tandem of Jesse Williams and Rich Pagano, the latter also co-producing. Guests assist on select tracks. Heavy guitars welcome us into the stomping “Blues In The 21st,” also one of three singles, as thick electric guitar chords mesh with stinging slide, Vivino cutting it up with Joe Bonamassa and singing with convicted, unleashed passion. The second single, “Ruby Is Back,” is one of several examples in either the title or lyrics where Vivino plays off an older song, in this case, Kenny Rogers’ “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town.” Of course, this is a blues song, with Vivino displaying his considerable chops on the frets as well as the B3. The third single is “Ain’t Nuthin’s Gonna Be Alright,” where Vivino waxes on the trusty blues theme on hard luck and trouble in this mid-tempo tune.

The barrelhouse piano shuffle (w/ Scott Healy on piano) “Beware The Wolf” is the first of two featuring friend and harmonica legend John Sebastian. Mark Teixeira (Duke Robillard Band) adds percussion. There’s nothing ornamental here, just pure blues. Healy is aboard for the title track as well, with a riff styled along the lines of Muddy Waters’ “Mannish Boy” as Vivino runs through a litany of hard breaks, dealing with a flat tire “…my AAA card was canceled, it’s gonna be two of those days.” Healy also contributes to the mid-tempo “Better Days Past” with searing guitar and one of Vivino’s most potent vocals.

Healy dons the accordion with Vivino on resonator on “Goin’ Down Fast,” obviously a play on the blues chestnut, “Goin’ Down Slow” with the same chord progression. Even the lyrics hearken to older blues songs – “we are drinkin’ muddy water.” “Shady Side of the Street” ostensibly might relate to “Dark End of the Street,” but it clearly plays to the ominous strains of Howlin’ Wolf, complete with imitative howls and formidable guitar and piano.

“Fool’s Gold” is the requisite slow blues, with Vivino on a swirling B3 accompanying his crooning vocal with a blistering guitar solo in the break. Vivino goes out in flourish, titularly tapping into that famous Canned Heat song “Goin’ Up the Country” with his own “Back Up the Country,” rendering it acoustic with Sebastian on terrific harmonica. Again, Vivino’s wit shines through, invoking “where the water tastes like wine” and incisive commentary on commercialism and over-development with the line “…they got a Starbucks there, I can’t keep from cryin’.” As you’d expect, Vivino delivers the goods with little adornment needed. /Jim Hynes, Glide Magazine

Gonna Be 2 Of Those Days mc
Gonna Be 2 Of Those Days gofile

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Felix Cabrera Band With Jimmy Vivino - Live At The Turning Point

Album: Live At The Turning Point
Size: 153,2 MB
Time: 66:24
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Blues, harmonica blues
Art: Front, back

1. I Didn't Know (6:37)
2. Animalism (6:12)
3. Lovin' Cup (6:26)
4. Kid At Heart (4:19)
5. Too Young To Die (5:19)
6. Listen Here (10:07)
7. Birds Nest On The Ground (8:46)
8. Self Argument In D Minor (5:44)
9. Maggie's Farm (7:26)
10. Goin' Down Slow (5:21)

Cuban-born vocalist/harmonicist Felix Cabrera and American guitarist/vocalist Jimmy Vivino are far from a combination of oil and water. Instead they blend well together in a cool mix that is sophisticated, soulful, and very mindful of the tradition of electric Chicago blues. Vivino is a talented player on his instrument, his licks spare but singeing, while vocally he's quite reminiscent of Johnny Winter. Cabrera comes out of the instrumental tradition of Big Walter Horton, Magic Sam, and Little Sonny, with a piercing yet clearly defined sound, while his silky-smooth voice can be favorably compared to Sugar Blue.

Together they tear into a single set of enjoyable urban blues as recorded at the Turning Point in Piermont, NY, splitting up singing duties on a very interesting set of covers, classic blues standards, and some originals. One of the more heads-up choices is a ten-minute instrumental take of the Eddie Harris soul-jazz evergreen "Listen Here," as Cabrera's harmonica leads the way on this ultimate organ-fired Chi-Town street strutter. Bob Dylan's "Maggie's Farm" is also a good pick, as both Vivino and Cabrera add humorous vocal jive, musical refrains from the Champs' hit "Tequila," and even hip licks from "Manteca" to the roots rockin' song - a sure hit.

A classic blues like the steady-rolling 12-bar Howlin' Wolf tune "I Didn't Know," sung by Vivino, is a great warmup number for the band, while Paul Butterfield's "Lovin' Cup" is given an authentic treatment by Cabrera in a nonchalant, self-effaced statement, while the Sonny Boy Williamson perennial "Too Young to Die" is a blues shuffle with Vivino pleading his case to his maker. One of the lesser-known writers in the blues is Monk Higgins, whose slow-walking "Birds Nest on the Ground" might imply disaster, but instead Vivino admits the luck of the draw in finding a compatible woman, but then puts her down.

Cabrera contributes "Animalism" in a funky organ groove courtesy of Eddie Bishai, the laconic "Self Argument in D Minor," and an upbeat Texas-style swinger, "Kid at Heart," all featuring his best work on the harmonica. James Oden's "Goin' Down Slow" gives Cabrera one last chance to showcase his vibrato-infused harp sound, and he more than delivers the goods. This is a very good recording, bordering on great if only it was a double-CD set, which would then give listeners a better indication of how extraordinary the compatible combination of Cabrera and Vivino truly is. Hopefully a follow-up, or second volume, is in order. /Michael G. Nastos, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Live At The Turning Point mc
Live At The Turning Point gofile

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Jimmy Vivino & The Black Italians - 13 Live

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:57
Size: 135.0 MB
Styles: R&B/Soul/Electric Blues
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[5:25] 1. Fat Man
[4:04] 2. Soulful Dress
[3:01] 3. From A Buick 6
[5:02] 4. Fast Life Rider
[5:51] 5. Fool's Gold
[3:30] 6. Heaven In A Pontiac
[4:22] 7. Animalism
[4:37] 8. Light Up Or Leave Me Alone
[3:27] 9. What Do I Have To Do (To Prove My Love To You)
[4:36] 10. Miss Mona
[5:41] 11. Maggie's Farm
[4:33] 12. Song For Levon
[4:43] 13. Shape I'm In

Jimmy Vivino, Music Director and leader of the house band for Conan O'Brien's show on TBS, brought together his "Black Italians" band for a memorable two night concert recording session at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY. Featuring Catherine Russell (vocals), Felix Cabrera (harmonica, vocals), Danny Louis (keyboards, trombone, vocals), Mike Merritt (bass), James Wormworth (drums), Mike Jacobson (congas, percussion), Fred Walcott (timbales, percussion), and Jimmy on guitar, vocals and piano, The Black Italians were originally formed twenty years ago around a residency at the legendary Downtime Music Bar on W. 30th Street in New York City. Vivino, Merritt and Wormworth, who had been serving as the band for the legendary pianist Johnnie Johnson, started attracting local and national touring musicians to their shows eager to participate in impromptu jams of what Vivino describes as "Third World blues with New Orleans swagger." Vivino jokingly dubbed the communal group of musicians of various ethnicities "The Black Italians," which he says was really "about being soulful cats." The aggregation lasted about two years, until Vivino became too busy with his television gig.

On November 30, 2012, the reunited Black Italians hosted a public rehearsal followed by a live recorded concert the next night at Levon Helm's beautiful barn studio in Woodstock NY. The group had performed together only sporadically in the last several years, but one would never have guessed that once the lights came on and they hit the stage. Interspersing Jimmy's original songs with covers of tunes by the likes of Bob Dylan, James Brown, Traffic and Johnny Winter, the Black Italians immediately fell into a soulful, joyous groove, enlivening the audience. A night of truly inspired music making was capped off by "Song For Levon," written by Jimmy for the occasion, and a rousing version of The Band's "Shape I'm In."

13 Live mc
13 Live zippy

Friday, September 25, 2015

Arlen Roth - Slide Guitar Summit

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:25
Size: 145.2 MB
Styles: Slide Guitar blues
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[4:16] 1. Do What's Right (With Jack Pearson)
[4:34] 2. Dust My Broom (With Lee Roy Parnell)
[2:53] 3. Stranger On The Shore (With Cindy Cashdollar)
[3:37] 4. Sonny Skies (With Sonny Landreth)
[4:33] 5. Rocket 88 (With Johnny Winter)
[7:10] 6. Dixie Chicken (With Lee Roy Parnell)
[4:09] 7. Poor Boy (With Jimmy Vivino)
[4:38] 8. And When I Die [one Child Born] (With Jimmy Vivino)
[5:37] 9. Peach Pickin' Time In Georgia (With Greg Martin)
[3:38] 10. Paradise Blues (With Rick Vito)
[4:04] 11. Steel Guitar Rag (With Cindy Cashdollar)
[4:28] 12. You Really Got A Hold On Me (With Rick Vito)
[4:34] 13. Her Mind Is Gone (With David Lindley)
[5:06] 14. Amazing Grace (With Greg Martin)

With an all-star lineup of guests including Sonny Landreth, Johnny Winter, David Lindley, Rick Vito, Cindy Cashdollar, Lee Roy Parnell, Greg Martin, Jimmy Vivino, Jack Pearson, and Grammy-winning producer/drummer Tom Hambridge, Arlen Roth has created an exciting album that not only spans several genres and styles but also puts on display some truly great slide guitar playing.

Slide Guitar Summit mc
Slide Guitar Summit zippy

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Son SEALS - Lettin' Go / The Son Seals Blues band

Son Seals was born Frank Seals on August 13, 1942 in Osceola, Arkansas. His dad operated a juke joint called the Dipsy Doodle Club in Osceola where Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert Nighthawk, and Albert King cavorted upfront while little Frank listened intently in back. Drums were the youth's first instrument; he played them behind Nighthawk at age 13. But by the time he was 18, Son Seals turned his talents to guitar, fronting his own band in Little Rock.
While visiting his sister in Chicago, he hooked up with Earl Hooker's Roadmasters in 1963 for a few months, and there was a 1966 stint with Albert King that sent him behind the drumkit once more. But with the death of his father in 1971, Seals returned to Chicago, this time for good. When Alligator signed him up, his days fronting a band at the Flamingo Club and the Expressway Lounge were numbered.
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Album: Lettin' Go
Styles: Modern Electric Chicago Blues
Recorded: 1999
Released: 2000
Bitrate: 320k/s
Size: 164.75 MB
Time: 70:35
Art: Full

1. Bad Blood (4:47)
2. Let It Go (4:21)
3. Give The Devil His Due (5:24)
4. Doc's Blues (3:36)
5. Hair On A Frog (4:04)
6. Jelly, Jelly (7:07)
7. Osceola Rock (4:23)
8. Dear Son (6:58)
9. I Got Some Of My Money (4:33)
10. Rockin' And Rollin' Tonight (3:03)
11. Bad Luck Child (5:06)
12. Blues Holy Ghost (5:52)
13. Love Had A Breakdown (5:23)
14. Funky Bitch (5:58)

Personnel: Son SEALS - Guitars, Vocals
Jimmy Vivino - Rhythm & Acoustic Guitar
Al Kooper - Hammond B3 Organ
Scott Healy - Keyboards
Mike Merritt - Bass
James Wormworth - Drums
Fred Walcott - Percussion
and Horn Section

Note: After spending his entire recording career with Alligator, Frank "Son" Seals' debut release on the Telarc Blues label is also the Chicago bluesman's first album of new material in almost six years. Although he lost part of his leg to diabetes in 1999, as somberly evidenced on the cover photo, little else has changed. Seals' gritty, booming vocals sound as authoritative as ever, and, if anything, the half decade between studio albums has added an even tougher quality to his traditionally gutsy singing. Working with the legendary Al Kooper on Hammond B-3 and top-notch musicians from Conan O'Brien's late night band gives Seals a firm, razor sharp backing on which to lay down his tough Chicago blues. The four-piece horn section and Kooper work wonderfully together. Along with Seals' beefy vocal attack and his fat, stinging guitar tone, he turns in a solid, uncompromising set of primarily original tunes. The 70-minute album would be stronger if some of the weaker tracks like "Osceola Rock," little more than a bland rewrite of "Jailhouse Rock," were omitted. But the album-closing jam with Phish's Trey Anastasio on a remake of Seals' "Funky Bitch" is energized and electric, and with excursions into gospel, light funk, gritty country, Southern R&B, and even a sensitive ballad, the guitarist expands his palette while staying within the blues framework. All of which makes Lettin' Go a sturdy, hard-hitting, and above all welcome comeback album from one of the acknowledged greats of Chicago blues guitar.

                                                                    Lettin' Go
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Album: The Son Seals Blues Band
Styles: Modern Electric Chicago Blues  
Recorded: 1972
Released: 1973/1993
Bitrate: 320k/s
Size: 99.29 MB
Time: 40:40
Art: Full

1. Mother-In-Law Blues (3:15)
2. Sitting At My Window (4:34)
3. Look Now, Baby (3:27)
4. Your Love Is Like A Cancer (4:36)
5. All Your Love (3:37)
6. Cotton Picking Blues (4:41)
7. Hot Sauce (3:07)
8. How Could She Leave Me (3:42)
9. Going Home Tomorrow (3:39)
10. Now That I'm Down (6:02)

Personnel: Son SEALS - Guitars, vocals
Johnny 'Gig Moose' Walker - Organ
John Riley - Bass
Charles L. Caldwell - Drums

Notes: It all started with a phone call from Wesley Race, who was at the Flamingo Club on Chicago's South Side, to Alligator Records owner Bruce Iglauer. Race was raving about a new find, a young guitarist named Son Seals. He held the phone in the direction of the bandstand, so Iglauer could get an on-site report. It didn't take long for Iglauer to scramble into action. Alligator issued Seals' eponymous debut album in 1973, which was followed by six more.
The Chicago mainstay's debut album was a rough, gruff, no-nonsense affair typified by the decidedly unsentimental track "Your Love Is like a Cancer." Seals wasn't all that far removed from his southern roots at this point, and his slashing guitar work sports a strikingly raw feel on his originals "Look Now, Baby," "Cotton Picking Blues," and "Hot Sauce" (the latter a blistering instrumental that sounds a bit like the theme from Batman played sideways).

                                                      The Son Seals Blues Band
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